McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have confirmed their support for split strategies in the Formula 1 2025 championship fight. Both drivers noted the Hungarian Grand Prix was an outlier but believe flexibility in strategy remains vital.
In Budapest, Norris switched to a one-stop plan while Piastri stayed on two. The move helped Norris gain track position and challenge for victory. The choice raised debate over whether McLaren should lock both drivers into identical strategies. However, both insist that freedom will be crucial this season.
Piastri on Why Strategy Freedom Matters
Oscar Piastri stressed that race circumstances often justify different choices. “I think ultimately there are race situations where being the last car in the train, you’ve got a lot less to lose. That kind of aspect is always going to be there and I think it would be unfair to neutralise that just because of wanting to be on the same strategy.”
He also explained that Hungary sparked useful talks inside McLaren. “I think there was discussions about whether there was anything we could have done differently for myself, which were very productive discussions. So I think we’re still going to be free to pick alternative strategies if that’s what we want.”
The Australian underlined that flexibility helps maximize results in close battles. Forcing both drivers into the same strategy, he argued, would not suit McLaren’s position.
Norris Defends One-Stop Gamble in Hungary
Lando Norris defended his call to switch strategy at the Hungarian GP. “My decision to go on to the one-stop was that you’d have to be pretty daft if I was to box after everyone else ahead of me had boxed, just to follow suit and do nothing different,” he said.
He added that the decision was about opportunity, not outright victory. “It was more to get ahead of George to give myself an opportunity to be ahead of him at that point. Not necessarily to try and win the race at that point. It was pretty amazing that it turned out that way and was a perfect result.”
Norris admitted the race created some imbalance inside the team. But he emphasized that such moments are part of racing. “Maybe it was not a perfectly harmonious race between us as a team because it didn’t fall exactly into the place of what we would normally go by. But at the same time, I think it was just an example of that’s what can happen in racing sometimes.”
Constructors’ Title Still the Priority
Both drivers agree that McLaren’s constructors’ championship push remains the key focus. Norris explained that freedom is important, but the team’s collective aim comes first. “There’s no major changes, but we still have a constructors to win and that’s priority at this point.”
As McLaren battles Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, its flexible strategy policy could prove decisive. Allowing drivers to take calculated risks ensures competitiveness without ignoring the bigger picture.
The Formula 1 2025 season is reaching a crucial phase. McLaren’s willingness to let Norris and Piastri race with freedom may become a defining factor in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
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